With Christmas just a few weeks away, why not let Dons Trust fundraisers Ray Armfield and Paul Jeater tempt you into buying a few seasonal gifts?
Since we launched the auction on Monday, we've had plenty of interest in our great selection of items and you can view the bids in the list of lots below.
The annual Silent Auction concludes this Saturday in the main Your Golf Travel bar between 12.30 pm and 2.15 pm ahead of the Gillingham game, but you can get your online bids in now. Simply e-mail rayarmfield@aol.com with your name, contact details, the lot number of the item below and how much you want to bid. Online bidding will close at 11.59 on Friday, before the auction’s ‘live’ finale the following day. If you bid online and are subsequently outbid, we will inform you as soon as we can.
Silent Auctions have raised nearly £45,000 for the Dons Trust since their inception and once again the auction team have been busy sourcing a wide range of sporting memorabilia. As well as plenty of AFC Wimbledon and Wimbledon FC-related lots, there are also personally signed items from former F1 World Champion Jenson Button, cricket superstars Jofra Archer, Joe Root and Rory Burns, 2003 England Rugby World Cup winner Jason Robinson, plus the ever-popular Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters from the greatest day in England football history in 1966.
For winning bidders intending to pay on the day at the end of the auction, please bring cash or a cheque (with ID) and item collection at or immediately after the Gillingham game itself would be greatly appreciated!
Below is the full list of items with images featured in the gallery above. Feel free to ask any questions either by e-mail or on the day itself.
Lot 1: Vinnie Jones signed ‘My Life’ pictorial autobiography (£200)
With a full-page hand-signed message and a certificate of authenticity, this hardback 220-page book first published in 2001,sees the Dons legend and X-Factor singer open up about his early days, family and football career accompanied by some rare and personal photographs. A cracking gift.
Lot 2: Lawrie Sanchez in action
A colour press photo framed in a 16” x 12” border with a clear signature and a certificate of authenticity of the midfielder whose goal famously won the 1988 FA Cup Final for the Dons. The item has been shrunk-wrapped so you can purchase the style of frame to suit your taste.
Lot 3: 1966 and all that! (£75)
Probably the star of this year’s show – a huge (22” x 30”), professionally-framed and mounted colour print of the 1966 England World Cup winning XI plus manager Sir Alf Ramsey, hand-signed by the goalscorers in the final itself – Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters. You won’t want to miss this one.
Lot 4: 1988 and all that! (£50)
Wimbledon FC’s finest hour-and a half and we have a lovely souvenir of that unforgettable Wembley win. A 14” x 11” bordered press photo of skipper Dave Beasant and goalscorer Lawrie Sanchez together with each of their signatures. Professionally-presented and backed with an authenticity certificate.
Lot 5: On The Beere (£100)
A rare chance to acquire this spare player-issue shirt, fully-embroidered, named and badged with sleeve decals from AFC Wimbledon’s 2016 League 2 Playoff Final victory at Wembley. This Admiral size M shirt was Tom Beere’s on the day, is in excellent condition, and a lovely momento.
Lot 6: Badges
Beautifully –framed by Terry’s Badges – a full set of match badges for each of AFC Wimbledon’s home fixtures in their inaugural Seagrave Haulage Combined Counties League campaign of 2002-03. Framed, mounted and ready to hang on your wall as a perfect reminder of when the Dons were reborn.
Lot 7: The Spirit of Wimbledon
‘The Living Memories of the Dons fans from 1922 to 2003’ is a book that should be owned by every Wimbledon fan and this copy has had considerable value added to it by the signatures of author Niall Couper plus 13 players including 1963 Amateur Cup skipper Roy Law and four of his team mates.
Lot 8: Can You Feel The Forss?
The Flying Finn Marcus Forss was in fine form at Southend last month, scoring his first senior hat-trick as the Dons won 4-1. And now you can bid for the very pair of Adidas boots he wore that day, both have been signed and they still have a few lumps of the Roots Hall pitch on them!
Lot 9: What are Words-Worth?
You won’t be ‘wandering lonely as a cloud’ if you are the winning bidder for a match-worn, named, numbered and badged playing shirt of AFC Wimbledon midfielder Anthony Wordsworth, who has also signed the back of his shirt on his number. Puma Size M and freshly-laundered!
Lot 10: Ben Stokes ‘On Fire’ (£70)
The new autobiography of the 2019 Ashes hero Ben Stokes, who also tells the story of England’s electrifying first ever World Cup triumph and how he played a pivotal part in an unforgettable summer for English cricket. A signed copy and an ideal gift for any cricketing Don in your family and friends!
Lot 11: AFC Wimbledon 2019/2020 squad shirt
A brand new Size L Puma Home Shirt, signed to the front by most of the current Dons squad including Joe Pigott, Marcus Forss and Terell Thomas. Would make an ideal Christmas gift for a fan young or old and would look lovely framed.
Lot 12: AFC Wimbledon 2019/2020 squad football (£10)
Hopefully you’ll be as pumped-up as this item is at the prospect of taking home an official AFC Wimbledon EFL Mitre Delta Size 5 football, signed by all your favourite Dons players. As with the previous lot it has come directly from the club’s commercial department.
Lot 13: Ashes to Ashes
England didn’t quite manage to regain the Ashes after a 2-2 series draw this summer, but it was an exciting time for several players and we have two official Test match programmes from the matches as Edgbaston and The Oval – signed by skipper Joe Root and Rory Burns, plus a scorecard signed by Jofra Archer after he took 6-45 at Headingley.
Lot 14: “The Crazy Gang Have Beaten The Culture Club!” (£100)
You can’t get enough of that swelteringly hot day at Wembley 31 years ago so here’s a combined lot of five items – a pennant (which has been folded but is still in good shape for its age), plus four individual signed player photos featuring Dennis Wise, Eric Young, John Scales and gaffer Bobby Gould.
Lot 15: The Champagne Song!
Something different to toast in Christmas or the New Year. A bottle of Nicolas Feuillatte Grand Reserve Brut Champagne from France, but with a twist – the label has had the AFC Wimbledon ‘bling’ treatment in the form of some intricate Diamond Art badge work. Lovely gift comes boxed.
Lot 16: Swing Low!
England may have fallen just short of winning the Rugby World Cup in 2019, but they made no mistake in 2003, when the golden boot of Jonny Wilkinson brought home the William Webb Ellis Trophy. We have a wonderful piece of professionally-framed memorabilia depicting the squad and signed by Jason Robinson. Needs to be seen – it’s a beauty!
Lot 17: LTB. Gone but not forgotten
He may be playing his trade in SE7 thesedays but there is an inescapable bond between Lyle Taylor and the Dons. We have one of his #PinkOctober Cancer Charity t-shirts signed by the man himself and we’re also throwing in a framed photo of him in Dons colours after the 2016 Playoff Final at Wembley.
Lot 18: On The Canvas (£5)
From the same talented source that decorated the Champagne bottle in Lot 15 comes a beautiful Diamond Art AFC Wimbledon badge on a 12” x 14” canvas, signed by the artist Ruth Passmore and sealed. Why not buy them both?!
Lot 19: How To Be A F1 Driver
With seventeen years in Formula 1, a world championship in 2009 and now a new career as a pundit, Jenson Button knows a thing or two about motor racing and tells all in this (signed) 341-page book. An ideal Christmas gift for any F1 enthusiast.
Lot 20: Signed and Framed Conference South shirt (£15)
Last but by no means least, a second chance to acquire a squad-signed shirt from our 2008/09 title-winning season signed by a number of players/staff, including Danny Kedwell, Jon Main, Jason Goodliffe and Simon Bassey. Nicely framed and ready to go!